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CC settles down after rough first inning vs. Astros

3/26/13: Kevin Youkilis rips an RBI double to the wall in left field, scoring Robinson Cano from first to make it 4-2 Astros in the sixth

By Bryan Hoch
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MLB.com |

TAMPA, Fla. -- CC Sabathia surrendered four runs, including a Brandon Barnes solo homer, in his final tuneup before Opening Day as the Astros and Yankees played to a 4-4 tie in 10 innings on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Houston touched Sabathia for a three-run first inning, as Chris Carter, Justin Maxwell and Carlos Corporan picked up RBIs in the frame. Barnes connected for his fifth home run of the spring off Sabathia in the fourth inning.

In line to make his fifth Opening Day start in a Yankees uniform and 10th overall on April 1 at Yankee Stadium, Sabathia allowed six hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out four. The left-hander finished the Grapefruit League slate with a 5.40 ERA over 10 innings.

"I felt pretty good today," Sabathia said. "The cutter wasn't that good today, but I felt fine. You're just going to have those days sometimes, but I feel pretty good, so I'm ready to go."

Astros right-hander Brad Peacock limited New York to a run on two hits over five innings, walking two and striking out one in his third start and seventh appearance of the spring as he continues to compete for a spot in Houston's rotation.

Brett Gardner drove home Eduardo Nunez with a two-out triple off Peacock in the fifth inning. Kevin Youkilis added a run-scoring double off Wesley Wright in the sixth inning, marking Youkilis' team-leading 13th RBI of the spring.

The contest marked the Yankees debut for Vernon Wells, who was officially acquired from the Angels on Tuesday in exchange for two Minor Leaguers. Wells started in left field and batted sixth, going 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout.

Up next: David Phelps will make his seventh start of the spring on Wednesday as the Yankees visit the Orioles for a 7:05 p.m. ET contest at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium on MLB.TV. Phelps owns a 3.97 ERA over a team-leading 22 2/3 spring innings. The contest is expected to mark the first start of new Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay, who is hoping to go north with the big league squad after signing a Minor League deal on Tuesday.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter forMLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.